Chapter 111: Unable to Escape (Part 1)
“Done!” Yan Liben put away his brush, blew gently on the painting, and asked Li Jihe with a hint of pride, “Lord Li, do the figures in this painting resemble the person you described?”
“Mm-hmm.” Li Jihe nodded repeatedly as he gazed at the face in the image, as if transported back to that year in Sanyuan County, inside the Jihe Pharmacy, recalling the moment the divine doctor had shouted at him in anger. “It’s him, exactly him! Almost identical to the one I saw. Lord Yan, your skill is truly remarkable—I’m in awe!” Li Jihe bowed deeply to Yan Liben, overcome with emotion.
With this portrait, it would be much easier to find that benefactor again.
“Heh heh, Lord Li, you flatter me,” Yan Liben smiled. “To ease the burden of His Highness the Crown Prince is our duty as loyal subjects. Now that the painting is complete, I shall take my leave. Please convey my apologies to His Highness on my behalf.”
“Rest assured, Lord Yan. Leave such trivial matters to me. Please take care!” Li Jihe respectfully escorted Yan Liben out the door, then returned inside, excitedly staring at the image of the man who had saved both him and the Crown Prince. Resolutely, he vowed to himself: This time, I will find you for certain!
“Is this the man?” Li Chengqian held the painting depicting the divine doctor, scrutinizing it for a moment before asking Li Jihe, “Is this the one who saved my life?”
Li Jihe bowed and replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Highness. Lord Yan’s brushwork is exquisite, capturing the likeness perfectly. The man in the painting is almost identical to the divine doctor I saw that day.”
“Hmm, appearances can be deceiving. Judging by his looks, he seems about my age, yet he already possesses such miraculous healing abilities,” Li Chengqian said, fixated on the portrait. “What kind of person do you think he is? He saved my life—what reward should I bestow upon him?”
“Your Highness, though I only had a brief encounter with the divine doctor and exchanged fewer than ten words, I know him to be a man of great compassion and warmth.”
“After Your Highness was stabbed, I carried you on my back and rushed through nearly twenty medical halls across Sanyuan County. Your blood stained the ground. Yet, in the end, only this divine doctor, a mere onlooker, stepped forward to offer aid,” Li Jihe recounted quietly. “Your Highness, do you know how I felt when the divine doctor appeared? It was a sudden release, like seeing a light after darkness. It was as if I found a pillar of support. Hearing the divine doctor’s voice calmed my heart inexplicably. From that moment, I knew Your Highness would be saved, and so would I.”
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“Hmm,” Li Chengqian nodded, imagining the feeling—much like when he and his mother were besieged in Prince Qin’s mansion years ago and saw his father’s troops arrive to rescue them. It was a joy born from escaping certain death.
He carefully folded the painting and handed it to Li Jihe, instructing, “Tomorrow—no, right now—send people to make several copies of this portrait. Distribute them among your guards and secretly search the counties and prefectures around Chang’an. You must find the divine doctor as soon as possible! Once found, inform me immediately. I will personally go to greet and thank him.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I take my leave.” Li Jihe bowed and departed, carrying the divine doctor’s image with him.
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“Mr. Liu, haven’t I already explained? The Crown Prince has sent someone, not only to express deep gratitude for your life-saving act but also with the intention of having you treat the Empress. Empress Zhangsun suffers from a respiratory ailment that has grown severe, and even the palace physicians have been helpless.”
“Recently, the Emperor even issued a decree summoning renowned doctors from across the land to treat Her Majesty,” Wang Zhenghe said somewhat ashamedly. “Unfortunately, my medical skills are limited, and I cannot relieve the Empress’s suffering. I feel deeply embarrassed.”
That was it. Upon hearing Wang Zhenghe’s words, Liu Yitiao’s head ached. Treat the Empress? That was tantamount to signing his own death warrant. If the esteemed imperial physicians could not cure her, what chance did a farmer-turned-doctor like him have?
Liu Yitiao glanced sideways at Wang Zhenghe, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. “Mr. Wang, I have a small request. I hope you will grant it.”
“Ah! Please, no need for such formality!” Wang Zhenghe hurriedly helped Liu Yitiao to his feet. “You saved my family’s life. Whatever you ask, I will do my best to fulfill. You shall not be disappointed!”
“Heh heh, it’s nothing that serious. I only wish you would forget everything you saw today concerning me and not mention it to anyone. I earnestly hope you will agree,” Liu Yitiao said, bending slightly and looking at Wang Zhenghe with earnest eyes. For now, the best course was to first smooth things over with Wang Zhenghe, then stay far away from the palace. The palace intrigues were not for him, and treating the Empress was a joke beyond belief.
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Though he longed to meet illustrious figures like Empress Zhangsun, Emperor Taizong, or Zhangsun Wuji, his own life came first. Such personal interests had to be set aside.
“Why? Mr. Liu, do you refuse?” Wang Zhenghe looked at Liu Yitiao bewildered, unable to comprehend why he would give up such a golden opportunity. Both the Crown Prince’s reward and the chance to treat the Empress were coveted by many but attained by few.
“Rest assured, Mr. Liu,” Wang Zhenghe said firmly, grateful and determined to repay kindness. “Today, I only came to Gongsun’s residence to treat the young master. I have not met anyone else, nor have I seen the divine doctor Liu.”
“Very well, then. Thank you!” Liu Yitiao smiled, clasping his hands in thanks. The two then returned inside together.
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“Big brother, what could you possibly have to talk to that old man about? You’ve been gone so long! I’m here waiting until my bones feel like they’re burning,” Gongsun Helan complained as they re-entered. His elder brother had piqued his interest with the promise of a cure, then left him waiting anxiously.
“Heh heh,” Liu Yitiao waved a hand reassuringly. “Brother Helan, be patient. After Doctor Wang finishes his diagnosis, if all is well, you will be able to get out of bed and walk again. Then no one will be able to stop you.”
Liu Yitiao signaled Wang Zhenghe, who stepped forward and sat beside Gongsun Helan’s bedside. Opening his medicine box, he took out a brownish-yellow wooden board and placed it before the young master. In a gentle voice, he said, “Young Master Gongsun, please extend your right hand and place it on this wooden board. I will now feel the pulse along the Shangyi meridian.”
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